Orange Yogurt Cheese Spread

This light yogurt cheese spread takes 10 minutes and turns plain nonfat yogurt cheese into something bright and citrusy. Fresh orange juice and grated orange zest stirred in give it a fresh, tangy-sweet flavor that works on everything from bagels to pancakes.

Yogurt cheese has a texture close to cream cheese but with a fraction of the fat. The orange juice loosens it just enough to spread easily, and the zest adds fragrant citrus oil that you can smell the moment you open the container.

Thin it with a splash more orange juice and you’ve got a creamy fruit dip that pairs well with sliced apples, strawberries, or grapes.

Kitchen Tips

• Use freshly squeezed orange juice, not from concentrate. The flavor difference is significant in something this simple.
• Zest the orange before juicing it. Trying to zest a squeezed orange is frustrating and wasteful.
• If you can’t find yogurt cheese, make your own by straining plain nonfat yogurt through cheesecloth in the fridge overnight.
• This keeps in the fridge for up to a week in a sealed container.

Variations

• Swap orange for lemon juice and zest for a tart, brighter spread.
• Stir in a tablespoon of honey instead of sugar substitute for a natural sweetener.
• Add a pinch of cinnamon for a spiced orange cream spread on toast.